10 things you need to know about your vagina

Written By The Good Housekeeping Health team | 2 April 2015

If you’ve got a vagina, ditch any embarrassment and read our no-nonsense advice about how everything fits together, the best ways to keep it all working well, and the latest tips to give your sex life a boost.

1. What’s what?

Although we tend to refer to everything down there as the vagina, the bits you can actually see are the vulva – the labial lips, the clitoris and the urethra. ‘The vagina is a tubular structure with the vulva at the bottom and the cervix – the entrance to the womb – near the top,’ says Dr Diana Mansour, Consultant in Community Gynaecology and Reproductive Healthcare. It’s also impossible for anything like a tampon to escape into your uterus, as the cervix blocks off access.

2. Lumps and bumps.
They are rarely anything to worry about, but if you do develop lumps or bumps on your vulval area, check them out with your doctor. See your GP if you notice blisters or ulcers in the vaginal area (which are likely to be caused by a herpes infection) or if you think you may have warts, which tend to have a cauliflower-like surface. Although not linked to cervical cancer, genital warts are contagious and unsightly and can grow large. They can be removed by freezing or laser treatment.

3. It’s a muscle, so you need to use it.
Imagine your pelvis and then a sling of muscle that hangs across it like a hammock – the vagina and rectum pass through this hammock and the muscle is in the lower third,’ says Dr Mansour. ‘The best way to keep the vagina in shape is to have a normal level of oestrogen – and regular sex. If you don’t have a regular sexual partner then using a vibratorcould keep the vagina toned.’ Post-menopausal women should work hard on their pelvic floor exercises, as these support the vagina.

4. Hold the Brazilian.
Your pubic hair is there for a reason, says Dr Vanessa Mackay, from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. ‘As well as providing protection for the vulva against friction, it has a role in preventing bacteria and other bugs entering the vagina – much the same way as eyelashes help to protect your eyes.’

5. More exercise means better sex.
Putting your pelvic floor muscles through their paces won’t just help protect against urinary incontinence, it also makes for increased sensitivity and stronger orgasms. To strengthen your pelvic floor, sit comfortably and focus on squeezing the muscles 10-15 times in a row without holding your breath or tightening your stomach or buttock muscles. As the muscles get stronger, hold the squeeze for 10 seconds.

6. Unlike your oven, it’s self-cleaning!
There’s no need for perfumed soap, douching or scrubbing – your vagina has its own cleaning system. Think of tears, which help clean your eyes – vaginal discharge works in a similar way. In fact, experts say douching or using perfumed feminine hygiene products can upset the delicate pH of the vagina and leave you more prone to infection. Some women can also develop chemical vaginitis – symptoms include a red, painful and itching vulva and increased discharge – caused by a reaction to soap, shower gel or sometimes an allergy to latex.

7. Occasional discomfort during sex isn’t unusual.
Lack of lubrication, infection, endometriosis and trauma can make sex painful. There’s a fold of perineal tissue at the opening of the vagina that can be traumatised during intercourse, causing pain. Try more lubrication, and changing position.

8. Cotton is the best choice.
It’s about keeping things at the right temperature. Tight jeans or leggings and synthetic fibres have been shown to raise the temperature at the vaginal opening, leaving you more vulnerable to yeast infections.

9. Using the loo after sex is important.
Needing to visit the bathroom after having intercourse is your body’s way of looking after you, as urinating after sex helps protect against urinary tract infections by washing away any potentially harmful bacteria.

10. Lubrication is a turn on.
A study of more than 2,500 women showed that using a lubricant significantly increased levels of pleasure and satisfaction – whether on their own or with a partner.